Beth Bunchhttp://northsidesun.com/taxonomy/term/131/0
enHattiesburlesquehttp://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow/hattiesburlesque
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/DR1_2642eeee.jpg?itok=Hrb-iUGe" width="576" height="365" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>A shy, demure, quiet young thing, a 40-something-year-old clerical worker at Southern Miss, a Saintsation, a postal worker who never sees the light of day and a 63-year retiree walk into the back room of Hattiesburg’s Thirsty Hippo. Believe it or not, they all have one thing in common – they are Hattiesburlesque.</p>
<p>These women, along with about 15 others and their creators – Abigail Lenz-Allen, Rebecca Chandler and Katie Ginn – are proud of their high-energy nod to real burlesque. “This show is fast paced and slow moving and a positive nod to what burlesque used to be,” said Lenz-Allen, its original creator. “It exists for what it is to us, which is a really good time.”</p>
<p>Following a highly successful inaugural performance in October, the ladies are ready to take the stage again. And this time, it will be a Valentine treat like you’ve never seen before.</p>
<p>Tickets are flying out the door for the two shows – 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at The Thirsty Hippo, the place they call home. Tickets, which are $12.50, are available at Thirsty Hippo.com or Hattiesburglivemusic.com. “That’s the only way to buy tickets,” said Lenz-Allen.</p>
<p>Both shows in October were sellouts. And what do they attribute those sellouts to? “This town wants to be entertained and have a good time,” she said. “They want to be and feel unified and that’s what Hattiesburlesque seems to do. Its seems to put everybody on even ground, to just rock out and have a good time. The dancers and the music are amazing, and it’s something different to do in Hattiesburg. And there’s also a little bit of magic to it.”</p>
<p> This month’s show has a creme and white circus/carnival kind of vibe, according to Lenz-Allen. But the show won’t be just inside.</p>
<p>An hour prior to showtime, there will be old-fashioned carnival games set up out in front of The Hippo. “There’s ring toss and a milk jugs game,” said Lenz-Allen, of the games being run by the Burlesque girls. There will be cotton candy, a gorilla being walked around on a chain by a Burlesque girl, someone blowign fire and an aerialist doing flips 12 feet in the air. It’s gong to be crazy.”</p>
<p>The creators ask that guests come attired in their Burlesque best or at least wear the chosen colors of the show. “That helps the audience become a part of the show automatically. And it’s fun to dress up for something like this,” she said.</p>
<p>The show’s cast wants their audience to feel like stars, so there may be some surprises. “We want people to walk out and wonder why they feel so good, covered in all these sparkly things,” said the Los Angeles native, who grew up backstage watching her father perform.</p>
<p>And for those who might deem the show a bit too risqué, Lenz-Allen is quick to point out that “you’ll never see more skin than you would at the beach. It’s very Disney. It’s a Disney version of a true burlesque show. I would have no issue with my teenage daughter, if I had one, seeing it. It’s all very fun, classy, high brow and positive.</p>
<p>“When people hear you’re doing a burlesque show, they immediately associate that with stripping, and that’s so far from it it’s crazy. It’s actually quite the opposite,” said Lenz-Allen. “It’s not even close to seeing skin that would be inappropriate in any way, even here where we live in the Bible Belt. And we were very clear on that.”</p>
<p>And since many of the show’s participants are members of the University of Southern Mississippi Dance Dept., and one of the founding members is a cheerleader coach for a USM squad, they follow all of the requirements those students must meet.</p>
<p>At the beginning of the October show, Lenz-Allen, who co-emcees alongside Drew Young of The Porch Sessions, stepped out on stage – “There’s one favor we’d like to ask of you. As much as you feel appropriate, please jump out of your chairs and whoop and holler and have a good time.”</p>
<p>She said at that moment, the sold-out crowd just went wild. “And the energy never subsided. It was rowdy and fun. Not obnoxious and the crowd was there with us 100 percent.”</p>
<p>And the crowd? Made up of everybody, according to Lenz-Allen. “There were couples in the front row over 60, there were kids 20 or 21 on a date and everybody in between. She estimated that 30 percent of the audience was over 50 years of age.</p>
<p>“I would bet we get a lot of those same patrons this time around.”</p>
<p>Lenz-Allen and fellow artists Rebecca Chandler (Grand Ballroom) and Katie Ginn (Laurel Ballet Academy) are the creators, while Ralph Nix and the Catfish Band, a group Lenz-Allen performs with, is the base band. They also have a talented piano player, Paul Linden, and have added a horn, a stand-up bass and a fiddle.</p>
<p>Brad Newton, owner of The Hippo has welcomed the group with open arms and has quickly become an integral part of this new-formed family. He serves as a music consultant and is a very talented drummer, who you just might see or hear during the February.</p>
<p>“He told us The Hippo was our home. Forever,” Lenz-Allen remembers. “We told him we don’t want to go on the road. We don’t want a TV show. We don’t want to make a lot of money. We just want to be one of Hattiesburg’s treasures.”</p>
<p>Lenz-Allen is quick to point out that they aren’t in this to make money. “Nobody gets paid but the musicians, who would be out working elsewhere if they weren’t with this group. We have friends who hold handheld stoplights through the show. They don’t get paid.”</p>
<p>Southern Prohibition Brewing Company has been a sponsor from the beginning, sight unseen, offering Emily Curry to hep promote the show through posters and a variety of other creative forums. And Danny Rawls, who heads up the photo department at Southern Miss, has been an incredible confidence booster for the girls.</p>
<p>Although he might find photographing a bunch of beautiful women a chore, its Rawls and his photos that let these women, many who have never done anything like this before, to be so perfect and beautiful. “He makes these women look so flawless and stunning,” said Lenz-Allen. “He’s become their confidence, in a way. Every time he came to a practice he was delivering more confidence to the group as a whole.”</p>
<p>Never say never.</p>
<p>While they never intended to take their show on the road, they received a call from Arden Land, a big promotions company in Jackson, who had seen the October show. “They called two days later and said we want you to come to Jackson. You’re not responsible for filling the space – Duling Hall, which holds 400 to 500 people. We’ll do the work and you come and do the show and we think it will sell out.” That show is scheduled for Feb. 20.</p>
<p>“We’ve said The Hippo is our home and we’re not clamoring to get to the Saenger or anywhere like that,” Lenz-Allen said. “We prefer a venue that feels more intimate, like a speakeasy.”</p>
<p>But as a perk for the cast, they decided that for every show they do at The Hippo, they can do one “outside” event as a gift to the girls for their hard work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lenz-Allen said that through Hattiesburlesque, a family was born... “a family of women in the South who aren’t catty to each other was born. And we realized very quickly that something much bigger was happening.”</p>
<p>She went on to explain that all of women are at different stages of life – married, single, divorced, and everything in between, churchgoers, with kids in school, very devoted to God, atheist, and everybody in between.</p>
<p> “And they are all gaining a confidence that I think women struggle for and fight for all their lives,” Lenz-Allen said. “Unfortunately, so many of us women don’t ever receive that ease where we can look in the mirror and say ‘fantastic’ and leave the house without walking down the street thinking ‘is my butt too big or whatever we do to ourselves.’ What we realize very quickly is we don’t really realize what we all do to ourselves. What we realize very quickly is that a lot of personal changess were occurring because of that feeling.</p>
<p>“Women are becoming stronger, realizing that the relationship they were in was not celebrating them enough. Women are becoming sexier to their husbands, women are wearing clothes they wouldn’t have worn before and walking boldly. We didn’t mean to start a female revolution. It seems like as a group we are growing as the mothers and women that we are and should be. I think so many people in general are just afraid that if they are confident that means they are full of themselves. But I don’t’ think that is the case at all. If you are confident, you are more capable. And you get that our of the way and don’t spend the rest of your time picking yourself apart . It allows you to go out in the world and see what needs to be changed, or fixed or just allows you to go pick your kids up from school and be O.K. in your own skin.”</p>
<p>Lenz-Allen hopes everyone will come out to see their show. And if not this one, then the next. “These wonderful performers deserve a space on the stages of Hattiesburg to shake and go crazy,” she said. “There are such great performers in this town and everybody deserves a little chunk of stage to perform.”</p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/front-page-slideshow"><span>Front Page Slideshow</span></a></div></div></div>Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:04:51 +0000ehall339 at http://northsidesun.comHomestead Exemption; Apr. 1 deadlinehttp://northsidesun.com/hattiesburg-lamar-county-petal/homestead-exemption-apr-1-deadline
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/money.jpg?itok=H2mnpNNj" width="576" height="384" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <div><span style="font-size: 13.0080003738403px; line-height: 1.538em;">For those Forrest and Lamar County residents have purchased a new house during the past year, you’re reminded that now is the time you can begin filing for Homestead Exemption, a tax break given to the state’s resident homeowners.</span></div>
<div>According to Forrest Tax Assessor Mary Ann Palmer and Lamar County Tax Assessor Jack Smith, Homestead Exemption is available to anyone who is a homeowner, is a resident of their home, and pays all local and state taxes in the taxing district in which they reside.</div>
<div>Eligible homeowners should make application for homestead exemption with the Tax Assessor in the county where the home is located between Jan. 1 and April 1. In order to quality for an exemption for the assessment year, you must file on or before April 1. </div>
<div>According to Lamar County’s website, you must own your own home and resident there on or before Jan. 1 of the current year to be eligible for the tax break. You must also have a warranty deed or least on file in the Lamar County Chancery Clerk’s office by Jan. 7 of the current year.</div>
<div>If your home is a mobile home, the owner must certify it to the land roll for taxation purposes. There is a $12 mobile home certification fee.</div>
<div>Once a homeowner files for the exemption, they do not have to re-apply unless there are changes to your homestead status, such as change in marital status, property ownership, eligible for different type of exemption, filed new deeds, added property to your current exemption, age of eligibility changed, business activity or you built a new home or changed residences.</div>
<div>When applying for homestead exemption, a homeowner needs to bring with them:</div>
<div>• warranty deed or assignment of lease, will (documents must be recorded in the Chancery Clerk’s Office);</div>
<div>• full purchase price (bring your closing/settlement statement);</div>
<div>• down payment (also on closing/settlement statement);</div>
<div>• have the social security numbers (if married, must have numbers for both husband and wife, event if the spouse’s name is not on the deed). If there is joint ownership, must have all parties numbers, regardless of relationship;</div>
<div>• tag numbers for all automobiles titled in your name, your spouse’s name or joint ownership;</div>
<div>• valid proof of Mississippi identification (valid Mississippi driver’s license or valid Mississippi picture identification card)</div>
<div>If over 65, disabled or a disabled veteran (100 percent), you must provide proof in the form of an updated letter from Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration with your claim number.</div>
<div>If a person or his/her spouse has failed to comply with the income tax laws of Mississippi, they are not eligible for Homestead Exemption. This includes failure to file a return, not paying taxes, or the homeowner and/or spouse claiming non-resident status on the Mississippi Income Tax return.</div>
<div>Mississippi Law also requires that you must be in compliance with the road and bridge privilege tax laws of this state to qualify for Homestead Exemption. That means your motor vehicle is required to be tagged where the vehicle is domiciled. To qualify for Home stead Exemption, the property must be your primary residence; therefore, the motor vehicle’s place of domicile is your homestead property.</div>
<div>To file, your must visit your local Tax Assessor/Collector’s office.</div>
<div>In Lamar County, that address is 109 Main Street in Purvis (the site of the old Lamar Bank across from Ramey’s). For more information, call Tax Assessor Jack Smith at 601-794-1020.</div>
<div>In Forrest County, Tax Assessor Mary Ann Palmer’s office is located at 601 North Main Street. You may call 601-545-6130 for more information.</div>
</div></div></div>Tue, 27 Jan 2015 21:52:00 +0000ehall239 at http://northsidesun.comForrest County Supes open construction bidshttp://northsidesun.com/news-hattiesburg-petal/forrest-county-supes-open-construction-bids
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/FCsupes.jpg?itok=PwfcqqyK" width="576" height="295" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>During the regular meeting of the Forrest County Supervisors, who met on Tuesday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Monday, the board opened bids for two construction projects and revisited a subdivision ordinance it had taken under advisement. </p>
<p>Because the projects are State Aid projects, Board Attorney David Miller had a State Aid engineer on hand to check and make sure all the bids were in order as they were opened. He checked for the Bid Bond, Non-Collusion, EEB Certification and Proposal to make sure all were in order and signed.</p>
<p>Bids were opened for the construction of 0.134 miles of Box Bridge Replacement on Corinth Road (Project LSBP-18(16). Four bids were received: Fairley Construction, Petal, $322,694.80; Bush Construction, Laurel, $323,930.69; Holliday Construction, Poplarville, $367,837.96 and Central Asphalt, Vicksburg, $388,081.34.</p>
<p>Upon the recommendation of the engineers, the low bid by Fairley Construction was accepted.</p>
<p> In the second bid opening, the work was for the construction of 0.190 miles of Bridge Replacement and Pile Replacement on Roads ‘A’-‘D’ (Project no. LSBP-18(15), which is actually four different roads. Only two bids were submitted – Central Asphalt in Vicksburg with a bid of $1,080,225.72 and Fairley Construction, Petal, $814,451.64. Fairley was awarded the contract.</p>
<p>In a matter taken under advisement during the last meeting of 2014 on Dec. 15, the board discussed the matter of five rental cottages being constructed by Allen Burch. At the time, the board was concerned about the project, which did not have their approval, and the ordinance, which is in place for such construction projects, not being adhered to. At that time, work on the project was halted by Burch until such time as the developer could address the concerns of the board.</p>
<p>The subdivision, on a private road, is based in Board President David Hogan’s district.</p>
<p>Hunter Andrews was in attendance Tuesday on Burch’s behalf.</p>
<p>Hogan said he had met with the men and addressed a number of issues the board had. He noted that Burch had stopped work on the project, having placed tarps over work which had already begun, but that framework was still exposed to the elements.</p>
<p>One of the board’s main concerns was the road, which did not meet county specifications.</p>
<p>Hogan told the board he had gone out to the site a couple of times, especially after a heavy rain and that the road did drain and there was no water holding in the road. Burch said he had had someone come in and put down a good base for the road and that once a revenue stream started flowing he hoped to chip/seal the private drive.</p>
<p>“There was some drainage issues around the cottages that I questioned,” Hogan said.</p>
<p>The developer also agreed to some fencing and screening on the project.</p>
<p>Supervisor Rod Woullard questioned the variance on the road specifications and why the board would be “changing our own requirements for this project?”</p>
<p>Road Manager Steve Keith said the road was a pre-existing private drive prior to the project and not a county road.</p>
<p>Again, Woullard asked what the problem was that kept the road from meeting county requirements.</p>
<p>“It’s not paved,” was Hogan’s reply.</p>
<p>Woullard felt by allowing the project to continue the board would just be “creating a problem for ourselves. I think it’s crazy to give a variance,” he said.</p>
<p>Supervisor Chris Bowen noted that a trailer park project in his district had been shut down because of this exact same issue.</p>
<p>Hogan admitted that Burch had jumped the gun on the project, but that all other aspects of the development fell within the ordinances.</p>
<p>“After meeting and looking at the issues and with his agreeing to some screening, moving the mailboxes off Moore Road (for safety purposes) and chip/seal the road when completed I believe we should approve it,” said Hogan.</p>
<p>While the chip/seal method won’t help Burch meet county road requirements, it would save him money on paving.</p>
<p>With another phase of the project planned, Hogan told the board that Burch had agreed not to do anything else without the board’s permission.</p>
<p>While Woullard was in disagreement, he said he would go along with whatever recommendation Hogan made to the board.</p>
<p>“I think the landowner has gone above and beyond to meet the requirements of the board,” added Supervisor Charles Marshall.</p>
<p>The variance was approved.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news"><span>News</span></a></div></div></div>Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:24:51 +0000dgustafson201 at http://northsidesun.comPetal teams want to ‘close the book on cancer’http://northsidesun.com/news-petal/petal-teams-want-%E2%80%98close-book-cancer%E2%80%99
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/RFL.jpg?itok=to9Z2kZi" width="240" height="103" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <div>
<p>"Cancer: Not Here, Not There, Not Anywhere!" "Let's close the book on Cancer," is this year’s theme for Petal Relay for Life, which will be held from 5 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday, May 1-Saturday, May 2.</p>
<p>Katye Parker, Relay chairman and her teams of faithful Relayers have kicked things off with meetings and fundraisers.</p>
<p>“We’re starting a little later than usual, but that doesn’t mean we’re not excited,” said Parker.</p>
<p>One change to this year’s Relay is that it will end at 3 a.m. rather than 6 a.m.</p>
<p>“We’re going to end Relay at 3 a.m. instead of staying until 6 a.m.,” said Parker. “When Relay was developed back in 1987, families were different than they are now. Communities have changed and there are so many who need to get up and do things the next day. We don’t want to stray too far from the ACS guidelines, but we want to work with our volunteers and people in the community to see if this works better for them.”</p>
<p>Relay For Life is a community event where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. </p>
<p>In Petal’s case, Hinton Park, located behind the Petal Civic Center, will once again be the site for this year’s Relay fun. Tent sites featuring everything from bouncy houses, games and lots of good food will ring the track, where each team has at least one participant on the track at all times.</p>
<p> Four million people participated in more than 6,000 events worldwide in 2014 and participants support the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives and finish the fight against cancer.</p>
<p>Petal’s fundraising efforts last year totaled $111,260.84 . Fundraising efforts in 2012 garnered them seventh place in the state in fundraising with almost $117,0000, followed by a sixth-place finish in 2013 with a grand total of $106,003.</p>
<p>“The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all,” said Parker. “This is our community’s opportunity to fight back against cancer.”</p>
<p>According to Parker, based on this year’s theme, each team will pick a children’s book as their tent site theme. “It doesn’t have to be a Dr. Seuss book,” she said. “Any children’s book will work.” </p>
<p>She encourages the Petal faithful to get their team registered at <a href="http://www.relayforlife.org. ">www.relayforlife.org. </a></p>
<p>“Encourage your teammmates to register, also,” she said.</p>
<p>The first team captains’ meeting is set for 5:45 Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Petal Civic Center. Future team meetings will be at the same time and place on Feb. 24 and March 24.</p>
<p>Parker reminds that all participants who want a T-shirt must be registered on the RFL Website by April 1. </p>
<p>The last team captain meeting is set for 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at a venue still to be determined. </p>
<p>Bank Night is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at Regions Bank.</p>
<p>The actual Relay gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, with a survivor and caregiver’s reception followed by a survivor’s lap and the Kiddie Lap. Activities will continue throughout the night with awards being given in a variety of areas – from best tent site and baton to a touching luminary service and lots of entertainment. Twenty-eight teams participated in last year’s event.</p>
<p>Relay fundraisers and events leading up to the grand finale include:</p>
<p>• Capitol Day</p>
<p>Parker said Relayers and others “are invited to join advocates fighting cancer at the Mississippi State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 22, as we meet with legislators and advocate for making cancer a state priority.”</p>
<p> Registration, which gets underway at 9 a.m., is required, but there is no cost to atted. Legislative visits and lunch scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. This is part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.</p>
<p>For more information, call 601-321-5519 or email <a href="mailto:anita.bales@cancer.org">anita.bales@cancer.org</a></p>
<p>• Team Captain University</p>
<p>If you’re a Relay team captain, you need to save Thursday, Jan. 29, to head back to school.</p>
<p>The 2015 ACS Relay for Life Team Captain University begins at 5:30 Thursday, Jan. 29, with registration and continues at 6 p.m. with dinner and training. The event will be held at the Bellevue Branch of Citizens Bank on Hwy. 98 West. Please RSVP if you plan on attending.</p>
<p>“We hope team captains will attend and get re-energized for this year’s Relay For Life,” said Parker. “This will also help us continue to grow into the future.”</p>
<p>• CFFC Bunco </p>
<p>The Center for Families and Children is hosting its annual Bunco Fundraiser for Relay on Monday, Feb. 9, in the auditorium at CFFC, 201 West Central Ave., Petal. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. </p>
<p>The cost is $20 per ticket and includes dinner, beverage, dessert and door prizes as well as a lot of laughter and fun. Call 601-584-4704 to purchase tickets or for more information.</p>
<p>Anybody interested in being a part of this year’s Relay activities in any shape or form should contact Parker at <a href="mailto:petalrelay@gmail.com">petalrelay@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news"><span>News</span></a></div></div></div>Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:17:35 +0000dgustafson198 at http://northsidesun.comOGHS student is Lamar County's DYWhttp://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-lamar-county/oghs-student-lamar-countys-dyw
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/dyw.jpg?itok=sgWGk_z2" width="576" height="329" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>Caroline Glaze is Lamar County’s new Distinguished Young Woman and while she won three categories – self expression, interview and essay, during Saturday night’s competition at the Saenger Theater, the award she is most proud of is the Spirit of DYW, which is voted on by the other contestants.</p>
<p>“I was really surprised when they called my name,” Glaze said. “There were so many sweet girls. We’ve really spent a lot of time together the last several months. I was glad to know I had as much of an impact on them as they had on me.”</p>
<p>The Lamar and Forrest County DYW programs joined forces once again to hold a joint program with winners named for each county. Connie Fox heads up the Lamar County branch, while Elizabeth Schwartz sees to the Forrest County contestants.</p>
<p>The new winner is excited about her title.</p>
<p>“I’ve been really hard on this,” she said. She was encouraged to participate by her older sister, who competed about 5 years ago, as well as last year’s title holder, Taylor Parsons, who is a friend and in Oak Grove’s Center Stage Showchoir with Glaze. Glaze described her participation as “definitely a new experience.”</p>
<p>For her, the physical fitness portion of the show was the biggest challenge. Contestants perform a choreographed fitness program together before each girl broke away to show off her own physical fitness prowess.</p>
<p>“I’ve not necessarily worked out a lot,” Glaze said. “The pushups were the hardest.’</p>
<p>And while fitness may have been the most difficult, the talent was the easiest.</p>
<p>“I’ve grown up singing, so I was comfortable with that,” she said. She sang “Feeling Good” by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusee. She’s not sure how she decided on that song, but family friend Karen Morris, helped her with that portion of the program.</p>
<p>The self-expression winner, Glaze found a dress on sale that she really liked, but was sad that it had to be cut off shorter.</p>
<p>To prepare for the interview portion of the program, Glaze and the other contestants worked with mock interview programs with different people to help them get comfortable with the whole setting. “It also gave us a chance to get our words right,” she said. Her sister also impressed upon her the need to be prepared for the interview. “She had been there before so she knew,” Glaze said.</p>
<p>As the essay winner, contestants had to write about the part of DYW – the 5 Elements of the Be Your Best Self Program, Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible – that had impacted their lives the most since becoming involved.</p>
<p>“I wrote about involvement,” said Glaze. While a volunteer with the Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp prior to her DYW involvement, Glaze said it helped her decide that she needed to do more volunteer work with different organizations.</p>
<p>Glaze had both family and friends in the audience giving her support. “My friends made doughnut signs since my last name is Glaze,” she said. “I really couldn’t see them because they were sitting in the balcony,” but she could see her family sitting on the sixth or seventh row. She is the daughter of Laurie and Tim Glaze.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, the first day students returned to school following Monday’s MLK Holiday, Glaze said there were a lot of ‘congratulatory’ comments from friends who also played up her “distinguished” role in jokes.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Glaze and a group of friends went to lunch at Newk’s, her favorite place, to eat. It was something she had been looking forward to for awhile.</p>
<p>At OGHS, Glaze is involved in Beta Club, First Priority, Key Club, Young Republicans and Junior Civitans.</p>
<p>Upon graduation she plans on attending Mississippi State University and major in veterinary medicine. While she thinks it would be fun to treat larger animals, she also realizes that it could be more difficult, even though “they can be cuddly.”</p>
<p>Glaze said she’ll probably take a few weeks off before getting back in her contestant routine in preparation for the state program to be held at the end of July in Meridian.</p>
<p> “I’ll see what the judges said I need to work on and make those changes,” she said. She hopes to be able to keep both her dress and her talent the same,</p>
<p>But where the physical fitness aspect is concerned, “I may need to start today,” she laughed.</p>
<p>Other Lamar County winners included:</p>
<p>• First Alternate – Caroline Rhett</p>
<p>• Second Alternate – Madison Dyer</p>
<p>• Third Alternate – Lauren Pitts</p>
<p>Rhett was also the scholastics winner; Tori Miller took talent and Lauren Pitts was the fitness winner.</p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/front-page-slideshow"><span>Front Page Slideshow</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:40:54 +0000dgustafson190 at http://northsidesun.comPCS student to represent Forrest County at state pageanthttp://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news-hattiesburg/pcs-student-represent-forrest-county-state-pageant
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://northsidesun.com/sites/northsidesun.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/forrestDYW.jpg?itok=U3XyGAlG" width="576" height="384" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>It didn’t take long for the “distinguished” jokes to start rolling in for Forrest County’s new Distinguished Young Woman Sadie Henderson, who won the title during competition Saturday night at the Saenger Theater.</p>
<p>At school on Tuesday, the Presbyterian Christian student, felt the love of fellow students when the ‘Distinguished Young Woman’ misplaced her lab reports for chemistry class. “I had been warned that the ‘distinguished’ jokes would be coming,” she said. “And probably will for some time.” But that’s O.K. too, Henderson said her fellow friends, classmates and the administration were all very sweet, nice and congratulatory about her win.</p>
<p>The Forrest and Lamar County DYW programs joined forces once again to hold a joint program with winners named for each county. Elizabeth Schwartz heads up the Forrest County branch, while Connie Fox sees to the Lamar County contestants.</p>
<p>Henderson said the win was “surreal.”</p>
<p>“I had been convincing myself that the other girls were more qualified than me and they were going to win, so I was quite surprised and honored,” she said.</p>
<p>The DYW program wasn’t new to Henderson. In fact, her mother, Anita, had competed in the then-Junior Miss program in Starkville when she was a junior and finished as a first alternate at the state program.</p>
<p>“Abby Rogers and Hope Walker are both friends who encouraged me,” Henderson said. “I was Hope’s little sister last year which allowed me to see the many opportunities the program offered. It was exciting and fun.”</p>
<p>A first-time contestant on stage, Henderson said she had competed in both piano and athletic competitions, but never anything like this on a stage. “I was nervous before I went on stage, but then I’d calm down,” she said. “But then I’d go off stage to change clothes and I’d get nervous again.”</p>
<p>In addition to the DYW title, Henderson also won talent, interview and essay, as well as the Spirit of DYW, which is voted on by the other contestants.</p>
<p>“I felt well prepared for all of it,” she said. “I like talking, so the interview was not bad and I participate in volleyball and work out, so the physical fitness was O.K. also.”</p>
<p>Although she’s been taking piano for 11 years, since the first grade, she said it was the talent that probably made her most nervous. It wasn’t because she didn’t know the piece, “but I was afraid I’d miss a note and it would throw the whole piece off,” she said. “It was probably one of the hardest pieces I’ve ever played.”</p>
<p>Henderson enjoys piano much more now than she did when in middle school. “I’m not allowed to quit,” she said of her mother’s desire for her to continue throughout high school. “I’m thankful now that she made me do it.”</p>
<p>The piece she played, “Prelude in G minor, Op 23, No 5” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, was chosen by her piano teacher a year ago. “It wasn’t necessarily chosen for the DYW program, but for the Mississippi Music Teachers Assocation (MMTA) competition later this year,” said Henderson. “I actually only played a section of the piecethat was easy to pull out,” she said. “I’ll play the entire piece at MMTA competition.”</p>
<p>The interview portion of the program was fun and enjoyable, she said. “Someone described it like talking to a bunch of your mom’s friends about yourself for about 10 minutes. The time just flew by.”</p>
<p>And although she’s a mock trial participant at PCS, that’s new to her this year. “This is the first speech and debate style things I’ve ever done, but I believe it helped me prepare,” Henderson said.</p>
<p>For the essay portion, which Henderson also won, contestants had to write about the part of DYW – the 5 Elements of the Be Your Best Self Program, Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious and Be Responsible – that had impacted their lives the most since becoming involved. Henderson wrote about involvement.</p>
<p>She said she expounded on a Hope For Hattiesburg program that her church youth group, First Presbyterian, participated in this past summer.</p>
<p>“We went to East Hattiesburg and painted a house for a lady who was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church,” said Henderson. “The way she reacted and was so thankful was very eye opening. I wrote a lot about that.”</p>
<p>The Spirit of DYW, voted on by the other contestants was a surprising honor bestowed upon Henderson. “It was so sweet,” she said. “But all the contestants were such sweet girls and everyone up there deserved it. Everyone was so well rounded, but it was definitely a huge honor.”</p>
<p>Henderson had a large cheering section of family and friends. She had family that drove down from Memphis and Jackson and admits that her older brother was actually nervous for her. And all of her friends were seated together in one section.</p>
<p>Henderson said she’ll probably take some time off before she buckles down to prepare for state competition to be held in Meridian at the end of July.</p>
<p>“I’ve still got volleyball and mock trial, so those will help keep me fresh in physical fitness and interview,” she said. “And my piano and fitness elements are pretty much a year-round thing.”</p>
<p>She hopes the judges liked the dress she chose to wear. “I was afraid that it was too sparkly, but I hope they liked it because I’d really like to wear it for state,” she said.</p>
<p>Henderson’s friend, Anna Higginbotham, helped her with interviews as well as how to walk in heels.</p>
<p>At PCS, Henderson also participates in track, senior Beta, Hands &amp; Feet, Mu Alpha Theta, FBLA as well as other clubs and organizations.</p>
<p>As of now, the daughter of Anita and Randy Henderson isn’t sure where she wants to attend college or what her major might be. Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and the University of Virginia are all on her list, but then so is Georgetown and Princeton. “I might as well shoot for the stars,” she said of the inclusion of Princeton.</p>
<p>She knows there are some professions she doesn’t want to pursue – medical (both parents are doctors and her brother is leaning in that direction), not a pilot, an artist or a lawyer, either. “Maybe something in journalism or business,” she said.</p>
<p>Other winners included first alternate, Isabelle McKellar; second alternate, Zoe Fokakis; third alternate, Hannah Flathau and fourth alternate, Ceili Rassier.</p>
<p>Fokakis won scholastics, while McKellar took home awards for fitness and self expression. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/front-page-slideshow"><span>Front Page Slideshow</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news"><span>News</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 22 Jan 2015 03:20:29 +0000admin170 at http://northsidesun.com